U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) recently cosponsored a bill that would direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to evaluate and consider the impact of the telecommunications network equipment supply chain on the deployment of broadband infrastructure projects.
“In this digital age, access to reliable internet can determine the success of farms, businesses, and even health care in rural communities,” Sen. Moran said. “Adding transparency to the supply chains that support broadband infrastructure projects will help speed up the rollout of programs designed to increase internet activity for rural America.”
Specifically, the bipartisan Network Equipment Transparency (NET) Act, S. 503, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), would require the FCC’s Communications Marketplace Report to describe to Congress the impact of supply chain disruptions on the timely completion or deployment of broadband infrastructure projects.
“In order to effectively connect our communities, it’s critical that our federal agencies work to address any potential problems that would slow or hinder this process of deployment,” said Sen. Capito. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the NET Act, which will provide us with another tool to monitor the supply chain so these crucial projects can be executed in a timely manner.”
Sen. Hickenlooper pointed out that lawmakers wrote the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to connect every American to reliable, high-speed internet.
“Supply chain disruptions shouldn’t delay the rollout of these projects,” he said. “We don’t have time to waste.”
The bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee for consideration.